DIY Advice for Homeowners

Main menu

Proper Soffit Ventilation

As mentioned in our previous article regarding soffit replacement, it your soffits are damaged or if there is condensation in your roof the best option is always to fix the problem and replace the soffits. However; it is possible that during one of your annual inspections you notice that no damage to your soffits or roof is present, but that your attic is constantly humid. In this case, soffit vents can be installed underneath the eaves of a roof for the purpose of ventilating your attic and roof. Soffit vents reduce energy used on air conditioning as well as heating and more importantly extend the lifespan of your roof, soffits, and fascia.

Whether you live in a warm climate or a cold climate, proper roof and soffit ventilation plays a critical role in extending the lifespan of your roofing system. Improper maintenance and care of soffits can prove a costly fix as it can damage the fascia, roof, and structural components of your home. Your local siding contractor can easily explain why proper attic ventilation is important, but in call cases it serves two main functions.

Allows fresh air to enter the attic at the soffited areas of the roof

Exhausts most air from the attic

Regardless of the climate, removing moist air and allowing the stagnant air in your attic to be replaced with fresh air is critical for a proper roofing system to function.

Benefits of proper soffit ventilation include:

Reduce or eliminate damaging moisture from the structural components of your homes roof. Excessive moisture can build up in stagnant air, potentially damaging the structure of your home and degrading both the roofing system as well as the soffits and fascia boards.

Reduce energy costs associated with heating and cooling. By eliminating heat and humidity buildup in an attic reduces the cost of a home to cool down the area closest to your roof.

Prevents shingle damage including curling, cupping, and delamination. Increased heat in an attic can cause shingles to prematurely age and lift off of the roof. Excessive heat or moisture in an attic can actually void many asphalt shingle warranties.

To properly maintain both your roofing system as well as your homes soffits and fascia boards proper ventilation is critical. This ventilation creates a balanced system where the air is circulated and cooled eliminating many risks associated with hot and humid attics. If your home is lacking intake or recirculation capabilities vents may need to be added to your soffits. Intake ventilation is critical to guarantee the air recirculates and your home stays healthy.

Identifying Problems with Soffits and Fascia

Soffits are an essential cog in your home which contributes both to the physical appearance of your home as well as how your home ventilates the roof. Neglecting either part of your soffits can result in a diminished home exterior as well as problems in your roof including mold, dampness, and rot. Soffit material is commonly made of wood, metal, or more recently outdoor durable vinyl. Regardless of the material type, the soffits occupy a rather inconspicuous area on your home, underneath the roof eaves, or the horizontal area under your gutters.

Effects of Neglected Soffits

Degradation of soffit material, commonly seen in wooden soffits is caused by water not being properly wicked away from your home causing the water to drip from the roof and collect in the eaves and on the soffit boards. Every homeowner should inspect their soffits, fascia, and gutters every year in the spring or summer months because degradation of the soffit boards can cause greater damage to the roof.

Annual Soffit Inspection

In most cases, a visual inspection will be an adequate indicator to tell you whether or not you may have problems. Inspection of soffits should include identifying areas of peeling paint, water marks, rotten section, holes, water stains, warped boards, and discolored areas. If any of these symptoms are observed, it is not enough to just paint over the defective area or cutout the impacted section. By covering or removing the defective area without identifying and fixing the cause only assures that the problem will continue to manifest itself in your homes soffits, fascia, and roof.

If defects are observed in your homes soffits, they need to e removed and the remaining area needs to be examined. Examination of the rafter boards, fascia boards, 2 by 4’s, and attic space is critical to understand what has caused the soffit defect. In most cases soffit damage is caused by water infiltrating the soffits along the drip edge or by the lack of ventilation in the attic causing humid air to cultivate mold growth.

Close inspection and soffit removal or replacement requires a close up inspection of both the fascia and under the soffit eaves. If your home is a single story it may be able to inspect them on your own, if it is a two-story it may be best to contact a local professional to eliminate the risks associated with scaling and inspecting your home. Contact your local window and siding contractor to tackle the job if you are not confident with either the inspection or scaling the sides of your home.

Soffit Damage Identification

Rotten, damaged, or otherwise defect boards should be replaced after the cause of the defect is identified and solved. Because soffits damage is likely due to another roofing deficiency, the first step is to locate the source of the roofing defect and to fix it. In most cases, a local roofing and siding contractor can identify deficiencies by inspecting the attic and soffits on a rainy day. From the attic, inspectors will check the underside of the roof and identifying where the water is dripping from. Mark the area causing the soffit and roofing defects so you can collect multiple quotes on fixing the impacted roofing area as well as the defective soffits.

After all of the roofing repairs have been completed, the soffits can then be replaced. Examine all the soffit boards, and framing material on both the exterior of the home as well as from the attic space. Both the soffits, fascia, and roofing material need to be structurally sound and properly ventilated. If all of the soffits are in poor shape from either the exterior of your home or from the roof, it would be a good idea to replace the soffits and fascia boards as well. Make sure that you schedule the replacement to take place while the existing soffits and fascia are dry before attempting repairs or replacement.

Soffit Replacement

Before the soffits can be replaced or repaired, the fascia boards need to be removed. For this reason, many homeowners replace the soffits, fascia, and gutters in the job. To remove the fascia board, the gutters need to be removed. These are commonly held in place by nails which are secured to the roof underneath the final layer of shingles. Once the gutters are removed, the fascia boards can be removed. Replace the damaged fascia board with a new one, which can easily be cut to the same dimensions as the old and painted with outdoor durable paint. Nail the new fascia board in place. With the fascia boards replaced and secured, the soffits can now be replaced.

In many instances soffits are made of thing material grooved together and nailed to the roofing outlooks. Remove all of the damaged soffit material. New soffit material can easily be cut to the same dimensions as the old and painted with outdoor durable paint. Secure the soffits to the fascia and roofing outlook.

Perform a final soffit inspection after the new installation is complete.

Vinyl siding is the most popular way to protect your home from the elements. Metal or aluminum siding is by far the easiest and cheapest siding that is available on the market. Whether you choose aluminum or vinyl, the choice is clear, you want to protect your home from harm. Both aluminum and vinyl can and will do this.

Insulated Vinyl Siding Installed Horizontally

Aluminum Siding Installed Vertically

Vinyl Siding Comparison

Wood Siding

Wood siding offers a classic and natural look to your house. The reclaimed and harvested woods are environmentally friendly as well. Within the past ten or so years the environmental impact is something younger homeowners are considering more heavily. Wood siding is natural and very easy to dispose of as well. The main drawback of a natural wood finish is the high upkeep and maintenance cost having it look good. Wood siding, has the highest maintenance cost, and often require the homeowners to stain or refinish it every other year.

Engineered Wood Siding

Engineered wood, attempts to mimic the physical appearance of normal wood siding, but provide additional protection against degradation and loss of color. It offers a very durable and very similar appearance as opposed to regular wood siding, but costs roughly 30%-40% more. The added cost is a turnoff for most homeowners, but trust me, it’s worth every penny.

Aluminum Siding

The main advantage of using aluminium siding that it can be fitted in any irregular and unusual shapes and opening while vinyl has the limitation in this part. Also, aluminium can be painted but it is observed that the paint is being peeled off by itself. The cost of aluminum is relatively cheap, but the maintenance and replacement costs are slightly higher.

Fiber Cement

This material is so designed to survive against flames and hurricane forces. But this is the only advantage available with this material. While requires a high maintenance, fiber cement costs 1.5 times of the vinyl sidings and it cracks very easily.

Pros & Cons Of Vinyl Siding And Other Options

Before taking any concrete decision about the perfect material for your siding, here are some of the pros and cons of the vinyl siding.

Pros Of Vinyl Siding

Easy installation: Vinyl sidings are very easy to install. Only a little skill required for a DIY. Alternatively, you can hire a professional.

Durability in colour: The incorporation of modern techniques ensures even the darker colours offering fade resistance. It does not show any chip or cracks in the material colours.

The cost incurred: When choosing vinyl siding, you can avail the minimum cost for your sidings in comparison with any other materials. Also, vinyl offers approximately a 78% of recovery while selling the siding.

Cons Of Vinyl Siding

Water resistant vs. watertight: If your siding stand against the wind drove rain, there might be certain chance that the water stuck behind the siding and may cause mold and rot.

Can be fade due to UV ray or dirt: When the advantage is durability in colors, but still, the color can be faded due to the UV rays. Also, building dust and dirt can fade or crack the colour.

Bend and crack: In a temperature of extreme heat and cold, there is certain chance that a vinyl siding may bend or crack easily.

Vinyl Siding Conclusion

If you want to give your house a new ultra modern look, go for the vinyl sidings which will ensure a modern as well as the classy look of your house at the most cost effective way. And make sure that you speak with your local window contractor to help plan out the color scheme to match your soffits, fascia, and windows. For more information on texture siding or vinyl shake siding click here.

There are four types of siding available in the market. Between metal, wood, fiber cement and vinyl, insulated vinyl siding is by far the most popular way to cover the exterior of your home in the United States. Vinyl is also one of the cheapest siding options available, depending on installation size and area. If you have a multi-tiered home the installation cost of insulated vinyl siding begins to rise and may be more expensive when all said and done than something like metal siding. Metal siding is rather simple to install and clips together much easier than any type of vinyl on the market. However; most homeowners find the diversity in colors, textures and appearance of vinyl to be worth the extra spend.

Cost Factors Of Vinyl Siding

Vinyl is available in many variants. Trying to fix a price to the cover all of these different material styles is difficult, but is generally within about 10% of each-other. The visual aspect determines the complexity of manufacturing and thus the cost of production. The question really comes down to what style and texture are you looking for? The main reason for the price variation depends on the manufacturing process and the incorporation options at the time of making.

The Visual Aspect

Available in many colors, shapes, styles and textures; this is assured that the vinyl will always attract some glances. So, this is surely an advantage of this material. Having this wide selection of styles and textures, you can always find a vinyl matching your style in the market. The most common options are shake siding and textured horizontal siding.

Vinyl Siding Maintenance

Vinyl siding installation progress

When deciding between your options, be aware that the maintenance cost is very low with this material. Whether you decide to power wash or clean it is up to you, but vinyl is very durable and resistant to degradation. You can use your simple garden hose pipe to wipe the dirt away from the siding. In case of an exterior mold or plant, you can use you a soft brush paired with cleaning solutions. But, if you choose to remove it from a pressure washer, this is advisable that you should use the pressure in low pace as high pace may loosen the grip between the wall and siding.

Power-washing Vinyl Siding

When doing the washing job, you should remember to start the work from the top. By working your way to the bottom, reduces the amount of rework required. This will cause the grime you remove to run down to the area that you still need to clean, instead of mucking up what you just washed.

There are many options of residential siding materials available for homeowners when it comes to enhancing the appearance of homes. It can be hard to decide on the best siding for your specific project because not all siding materials are perfect for every homeowners needs. The best siding material depends on the what you are trying to accomplish as a homeowner, whether it be energy efficiency, lower cost, or a custom look, the best siding will vary. However, If you know the basics of different siding materials, then you will have a better idea in choosing the best siding for your home.

Siding Options on a brand new home

Average Siding Comparison (Materials and Cost Thereof)

Wood siding is the oldest and most attractive cladding material available in the market. It is attractive and easy to work on. But, it requires more maintenance when compared to other types of sidings. It is affordable to install at first, but the maintenance cost can be expensive in the long run.

Fiber cement siding can also be referred by brand names such as Hardie board. When comparing the fiber cement siding, it is a better option when looking for performance and affordability. It is designed to hold under extreme conditions and can hold paint for long. It is a popular choice in most mid-range residential siding materials.

Stucco is another material which is priced affordably and holds up very well. There are some parts where it is highly preferred while in some places people avoid it due to its appearance. It may have low resale value due to limited companies willing to carry out repairs on the materials.

Low Cost Siding Material Comparison

Aluminum siding is another affordable cladding option. It requires more upkeep than other materials such as vinyl siding. Many people prefer aluminum due to its durability and re-usability.

Vinyl siding has been around for decades and it is very popular. People claim it requires low maintenance, but there are claims where it has been exposed to extreme weather and it became too brittle. In other areas it has been noted to fade due to exposure to extreme weather.

Premium Siding Material Comparison

Brick has been widely used as a siding material. It has great looks and holds up for long. It gives a home classic look. It is very expensive hence most home owners prefer to use it in some parts of their homes while alternating with other materials.

Stone is the most durable siding material in the market. It can last for hundreds of years on your property. But, it tends to cost a lot due to the cost incurred during the installation process. You will have to hire a skilled mason for you to have the material installed in your home.

Many people are being concerned on the impact their homes will have on the environment apart from the looks. To achieve the environmental friendly construction, most siding installers prefer going green nowadays. You can find most siding materials such as vinyl, aluminum and steel being recycled. Some of the materials used during the recycling process include locally found stones and bricks. Some green builders even prefer using a mixture of clay and sand. The use of locally available materials from the environment makes the siding installation eco-friendly.

Installing replacement windows in your home isn’t an over-complicated task to accomplish but it should be given a reasonable amount of time and will require some skill to complete to a reasonable standard. Once you’ve read a little about what’s involved in a full home replacement you should be good to go. Many families will pay several thousand dollars for the installing of their windows; however you will usually be able to do it yourself for as little as around $300 in total, of course this will vary depending on the type and size of the window you’re going to be installing. Bay and bow window configurations are more expensive to install than most others as you would expect, this is mainly due to their size.

Usually it will take you around 4 hours to replace a large window in full and of course you are going to need several tools to enable you to do the job. Most people have these tools lying around the home and including things like a hammer, screwdriver, chisel, knife, tape measure, square, wood shims, wood putty, caulking tubes, sandpaper, expanding foam and a pry bar. Once you have all of your tools gathered together you will be able to move onto measuring for the installation.

Measuring Up

Measure twice, cut once

It doesn’t matter what type of window you are using the measuring essentials are basically the same from unit to unit. It’s important that this is done right because everything else you do will stem from this.

When you’re undertaking the measuring process you will need to obtain 6 measurements in total, 3 along the horizontal aspect and 3 along the vertical aspect. The height and the width measurements are taken from the window jamb to the window jamb, this basically refers to the inside edge of the window frame. It’s important that along both axis that 3 measurements are taken, one to the left, middle and right when measuring the height and one to the top, middle and bottom when taking measurements for the height. You may see that these measurements are not all the same, if this is the case then you will need to take the smallest height and the smallest width measurement, these will be the dimensions for your new window.

Removing

The first thing to be removed will be the window stops, these are the things which hold the window in place within the frame. On older windows it may just be a case of unscrewing them or using a utility knife to cut the edges away and pull them out. You should try not to damage the window stops if possible as these can be reused and save you a little bit of extra money.

The next step should be fairly straightforward now that the window stops have been removed, you will need to remove the window sashes or the window panel, depending on the type of window which is currently installed. Because the stops hold the window in place the sash or pane should just lift out with very little effort.

Finally, you should take out any parting beads to allow you to remove the final part of the window sash, if it’s a casement window you’re removing you will often not have a parting bead in the installation. Now that your window is out you will be able to fill any holes in your window jambs, smooth them out and get them ready for the new windows.

Installing

Final touches of installation

The final part of the process is the hardest, installing the new replacement window. The first part of the process will be to lay a bead of caulk along the inside of the outside stops, this is where the replacement windows are finally going to rest against. You can then go ahead and install the first part of the window which will be the window header, this should be installed into the top window jamb.

Next, you will insert the replacement window unit into the square hole and see if it fits into place. If the window doesn’t quite fit because it’s too small then you will need to tap some wood shims into place to make it a tight fit in the window hole. Once the window is fixed well in place you will be able to screw the window onto the jamb so it’s fixed in place.

You can now go ahead and check to see if your replacement window works okay, try opening and closing the main parts of the unit and making sure parts which aren’t meant to move don’t move.

When you’re in the building business, one of the decisions you should make is whether to rent or to purchase your tools. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach, and you may likewise make your choice, and you consider each tool you need. Making the right choice can spare you a good deal of money after some time, however indiscreet decision making can cost you. Here is the thing that you need to look at when you are deciding on buying and renting that next enormous piece of building tools.

When to Buy Your Building Tools

Buying tools and machinery is a major investment, yet it can likewise spare you money over the long haul. Buying is a good decision when:

• You’ll use the tools frequently. If you burrow a few foundations for homes every month, it most likely makes sense to put resources into that shiny shovel.

• You don’t live close to a rental focus. If it’s a major bother to get the tools you need to take care of business, you’ll lose money or time going to buy machinery.

• You’re hoping to expand. If you’re doing admirably financially and are prepared to take your work to the following level, owning your particular tools with your name and logo as an afterthought likewise pays to publicize shows potential clients you’re the genuine article.

• You can bear to store or maintain new tools. If you as of now have an industrial carport and protection approach that you can include your new tools too, buying will be reasonable. Remember to ascertain shrouded maintenance expenses into your decision also.

When to Rent Your Building Tools

Buying isn’t for everyone, and a cheap rental may make sense in specific circumstances. Renting your building tools is shrewd when:

• You want to test drive. Regardless of the possibility that you’re in a good position to purchase based on the agenda over, it’s as yet an extraordinary thought to rent to take another piece of tools for a spin under genuine work conditions before making your investment.

• You need an additional lift amid the bustling season. In case you could truly use an additional forklift for a couple of months each spring, yet would wind up stopping it for the remaining part of the year, temporary rentals make good budgetary sense. Along these lines, you’re not on the snare for the protection and maintenance year-round.

• You need to keep your costs low. Renting makes it simple to precisely figure the expenses of the tools into your project evaluate, so you aren’t left on the snare for unforeseen maintenance cost on your building tools.

• You can rent from a reliable vendor. Finding a place with good staff to assisting you answer every one of your inquiries concerning rental tools is crucial.

Conclusion

When considering between buying and renting, it’s regularly an issue of when you want to use your money later. Buying enables you to put upfront on a piece of building tools that can spare you money as time goes on, yet renting lets you pay minimal upfront in return for a continuous cost each time you want to utilize the tools. Consider carefully, and you’ll assist your building business develop.

Home renovations can be a bad dream when the temporary worker you’ve contracted all of a sudden understands that revealing a divider likewise uncovered many years of clean and earth. Or, on the other hand pulling up the cover uncovered more than what you were hoping to see. Contractual workers know the dangers in significant home redesigns and know how to function securely. In any case, when you are the one taking every necessary step, you have to know how you can be sheltered also. Here are some DIY wellbeing tips for when you are taking the necessary steps yourself.

DIY Safety

Safety First!

The essential wellbeing gear for DIY home activities and repairs includes ensuring that what you see, inhale, or handle won’t harm you or others.

Head: While it might seem like an easy decision, wearing some insurance on your head will keep any damage to your head. Hard caps are the best security from knocking your head, or if something falls amid your redesign.

Eyes: Protecting your eyes is basic to any DIY home venture or repair. Wood chips, tidy, protection strands, and even shape can fly at you while chipping away at your home. Your eyes can be effortlessly scratched or harmed to the degree that you may end up losing all or part of your vision. Wellbeing glasses are economical however extremely valuable for what they ensure. Discover ones that fit well and shield your eyes even from the sides. Furthermore, no, your ordinary glasses won’t do to secure your eyes!

Lungs: One thing that is effectively overlooked until the point that it is past the point of no return is shielding your lungs from what you may breathe in a while revamping your home. Utilising a saw to cut wood makes a tonne of wood shavings, and whether you are bringing down or setting up drywall, there will be a considerable amount of mortar clean noticeable all around.

Clean that is breathed in from asbestos or fibreglass is another issue totally, says Jim Jones, CEO of Mr House keeper Residential and Commercial Cleaning. For this situation, an excursion to the healing centre is basic and immediately. Tragically, there is no cure for asbestos being breathed in yet specialists may recommend breathing medicines and solution to help with the side effects.

“This is the reason organisations exist where representatives have the gear and preparing to expel these materials securely, Jones proceeded. Working with wood and drywall can be hazardous as a result of the tidy these materials can make. Continuously wear a clean veil to avoid tidy inward breath. Broadened times of taking in the clean will possibly cause lung issues.” Quora.

While an expendable veil that covers your nose and mouth will shield you from particles of tidy and shape, you will need to wear a respirator if you will be working with perilous chemicals. Indeed, even some cleaning operators can be risky when joined, for example, blanch and a smelling salts item.

Ears: Your ears are very touchy, and constant noisy clamour from pneumatic nail firearms, saws, or different apparatuses and hardware you may use in your redesigns could cause hearing misfortune. Wearing delicate, expendable ear fittings will forestall harm to your listening ability.

Hands, Fingers, Body: Wearing gloves that are suited to the sort of work you are doing is additionally vital for shielding you from cuts, consumes, metal shavings, chemicals or solvents. On the off chance that you are additionally going to be evacuating asbestos protection, ground surface, or siding you ought to likewise consider defensive dress. Particularly if you will be creeping around in an old storage room or cellar.

It is that time again! Time for another update from us on what we are up to now. If you have been following along this far, then you know that Joe is currently in the middle of remodeling a basement for Sally and Scott. The last time we updated you on what we were doing, Joe brought in Dave and his mold sniffing dog, Sam to make sure there was no mold before we proceeded. It was really fun to watch that happen so we hope to bring them on for more of our projects soon. If, or when, we do, we will tell you all about it!

A lot has happened with the basement remodel since then. Since our last update, the drywall in the basement has been hung, some doors have been installed, and most of the painting has been done. Since I have covered these projects in the past, I am not focusing on them in this update. However, if you want to learn about these things, check out the following links: How to Install Drywall, Installing Pre-Hung Doors, and Painting like a Pro. Now that I added those for you to check out, let’s get on with the update of what we have been doing.

Construction contractors replacing doors

If you are wondering how to install an exterior door, like many of my readers have been asking about, then I am excited to share this new update with you. The old door we have replaced was the original door for this house so it was definitely time for an update on that!

About the New Door

Since the old door was the original one for this house, the new door is a little bigger than the old one. The new door is a simple one though. Nothing too fancy. Just a simple steel door with six panels.

Let’s get on with the steps to install it!

Step One: Remove the Old Door

First things first, of course! Remove the old door by taking it off its hinges and removing the brick molding as well as the door casing. There are a few different layers that go along with removing the old door. These “layers” include the block wall, the pressure treated framing, the blocking and door jamb, and the brick molding, insulation, and of course, the threshold had to be removed too. The door jambs were cut to make them easier to remove, of course. Also, most of the rough framing was saved to reuse with the new door.

After removing the old door and taking the “layers” down that came with it, the old caulking, adhesive, and insulation had to be taken out too. This is an important step to do so you will have a clean frame to add the new door to.

Step Two: The Rough Frame Opening

For the rough frame opening, you will need to glue and nail the 2x4s and the 1x4s in place. In order to make this task an easier one, you should use what Joe and his team used, a Ramset powder actuated nailer. The thing is, if you don’t use one of these tools, you will have to mark and drill the holes for the nails, add the anchors for them, and then screw the boards into their place. So, just make sure you have one of these actuated nailers!

Pro-Tip:

When measuring the rough framing, make sure it measures two inches more than the door in each dimension. You will need this extra space to plumb the door and to level it out.

Step Three: Dry Fit the New Door

Dry fitting means making sure the door will fit before you install it for good. To do this, remove all of the frames for it and set it in there to make sure it will fit your measurements and everything else you have done this far.

The next thing to do is to plane the molding. Although this isn’t really a typical thing to do since most exterior doors are installed with the brick molding facing the block wall. However, this time we installed the new door with the molding flush with the wall. There was actually a good reason for this. They did this because the next bigger and standard sized door wouldn’t fit and also because this was how the old door was installed back in the day.

In a few of the spots, the molding had to be planed to fit. This was accomplished by not only setting the nails just a little bit deeper but also by using a power planer.

Step Four: Glue the Threshold

Once they were satisfied with the fit of the door after dry fitting it, they then had to glue the threshold. They used double beaded adhesive for it by putting it under the door and inside the corners. This is a very important step because doing this will seal out any water that may be near the door on the outside.

Next, they had to check to make sure the door was level and plumb it. Make sure to check each dimension of the door.

To ensure a perfect level of the door, inserting shims is a good idea. You need to place these shims between the door jamb and the rough framing where necessary to ensure a perfect level. These shims will also help the door open and close the way it is supposed to. Joe and his team ended up placing shims behind each of the hinges, at the top of the door itself, and at the latch strike plate.

Step Five: Securing the New Door

Once you are satisfied with the placement of the shims, it is now time to secure the new door in its place. To do this, you will need to place and insert screws behind the weatherstripping to make sure the new door stays in the rough framing like it is supposed to.

Now you might need to trim those shims up after anchoring the door. To do this, score them with your utility knife and then break them where those score lines are.

Step Six: Insulate and Finish with Molding

Now it is time to add the insulation and the molding to finish this out. With this new exterior door, Joe and his team used insulation called, “Great Stuff.”Make sure to put the insulation on the inside and the outside of the door and fill each gap with insulation between the door itself and the frame of it. This “Great Stuff” insulation not only insulates all around the door but will also seal it to keep water out. This is because this insulation they used forms a water resistant seal.

Final Product!

Here is another pro-tip: When insulating, try using a foam that is low pressure because the low pressure foam will keep the door frame from bowing. This type of insulation works well with window frames for the very same reason.

All you need to do now is to add the caulking, to all of the joints and add the molding too. However, this step hasn’t been done by Joe and his guys yet but when it is, I will update this with pictures to show how it is done.

It is possible to repair holes in drywall on your own because the needed materials and tools are cheap. This do-it-yourself simple task can teach you a useful skill no matter if you rent or own. We will explain in this blog post how to perform this home improvement project.

List with materials needed:

• Mesh tape – you could use paper tape or fiberglass mesh tape.
• Drywall – also called gypsum board or sheet rock, can be found in more choices of thicknesses and sizes.
• Backer boards – you may use small pieces of 1/4″ plywood.
• Setting compound – a powder that needs mixed with water. It dries through a chemical reaction, unlike joint compound that dries through evaporation. Setting compound dries very hard and shrinks very little. There are different varieties of setting compound that differ by drying time. The advantage of this type of compound is that you don’t need to wait too long before applying a second coat. However, it is recommended to go choose a longer drying time if you are a beginner to patching drywall.
• 1-1/4″ drywall screws

Step 1: Make the hole square – widening a rectangle or square is easier than cutting a circular piece of drywall. It is recommended to start sawing after marking the edges with a utility knife.

Alternate method – in case that a stud is located nearby the hole, you may cut the drywall in order to expose stud’s half. This way you achieve a good nailing surface on the side. You’ll just need to secure your backer board to the other side.

Drywall picture in the process of repair

Step 2: Backer board securing– slide into the hole a piece of 1/4″ plywood and use a drywall screw to keep the plywood secured across the opening. In order to hold your backer in place, use four drywall screws.

Step 3: Cut a piece of drywall – for this operation use a drywall saw and / or your utility knife.

Step 4: Use tape to cover the joints.

Step 5: Prepare the compound and apply first coat – your mixed compound should have a thick consistency in order to avoid a poor bond. Apply the first coat using the 6″ drywall knife. Try to eliminate air pockets and ensure all the mesh tape is well embedded.

Drywall contractor applying first coat

Step 6: Second Coat – mix up another batch of compound while you wait for the first coat to get dried. Apply the second coat and father the edges with 100 grit sandpaper after the coat is dried.

Step 7: Final Coat – try to smooth the final coat in order to avoid lot of sanding for finishing.

Step 8: Sand Smooth – sand the edges smooth and eliminate from the rest of the patch any ridges and dimples.

Step 9: Prime – without primer your patch job will be obvious even if it was performed well.

Step 10: Paint – It is recommended to use a roller paint brush in order to avoid brush strokes. You will achieve a uniform structure by rolling the paint.

We invite you to check out our other home improvement projects in the Project Guides section, if you found this do-it-yourself project useful.